Additional contributions

When it comes to your retirement, it’s the little things that make a big difference – from what you save, to what you contribute. Learn about how you can contribute more to your super here.

You don’t have to contribute extra to super, however doing so may be a good idea as your retirement savings may need to last you 20 years or longer. Even small regular amounts can grow to have a bigger impact on your retirement over a long investment period.

As a PSS contributor, you are able to contribute to increase your PSS benefit, or choose to make additional contributions into a PSSap Ancillary account.

Growing your PSS benefit

PSS Retirement Benefit

The longer you contribute to PSS and the higher your contribution rate, the greater your final PSS retirement benefit is likely to be. That's because PSS provides you with a defined benefit determined by a set formula. It's calculated using the following three factors:

1. your rate of personal fortnightly contributions

2. your Final Average Salary (FAS); and

3. your length of PSS contributory membership.

You can't contribute to PSS if you do not work for a PSS participating employer.

To again be eligible to contribute to your PSS account, you must have a PSS preserved benefit entitlement at the time you rejoin the Australian Public Service or another PSS participating employer.

Personal fortnightly contributions

You can choose to contribute between 2% and 10% of your super salary, or at a 0% rate. Your contribution rate is based on your gross fortnightly super salary and is deducted from your after-tax pay.

Your Benefit Multiple (part of a set formula to determine your PSS benefit) accrues according to your rate of contribution. It grows each fortnight with each contribution you make.

Member contributions are classed as non-concessional contributions for tax purposes.

Contributions and benefit growth

The below table shows how much your Benefit Multiple will increase each year dependent on your fortnightly contribution rate. This table is for full-time members only. Part-time members will receive a pro-rata multiple accrual based on their part-time hours.

Contribution rate

(% of salary)

Accrued Benefit Multiple p.a

(if you have satisfied the 10-year rule)

Accrued Benefit Multiple p.a

(if you have not satisfied the 10-year rule)

0%

0.11

0.11

2%

0.15

0.15

3%

0.17

0.17

4%

0.19

0.19

5%

0.21

0.21

6%

0.23

0.22

7%

0.25

0.23

8%

0.27

0.24

9%

0.29

0.25

10%

0.31

0.26

What is the maximum Benefit Multiple I can accumulate?

There is a limit to the Benefit Multiple that you can accumulate which
is determined by the Maximum Benefit Limit (MBL). The MBL that applies to you
depends on your Final Average Salary.

Average
Salary

MBL –
From 1 July 2018

Less
than $73,500

$735,000

$73,500
and over

10
times average salary

For example:

Steve’s final average salary is $62,339. This means his maximum benefit
in PSS is $735,000 or, a Benefit Multiple of 11.79 times his salary (i.e. $735,000
divided by his average salary of $62,339).

Anne’s final average salary is $85,000. This means her maximum benefit
in PSS is $850,000 (i.e. a Benefit Multiple of 10 times her average salary of
$85,000).

Where can I get additional information?

You can access the iEstimator through
our Member Services Online to assist you in understanding the impact that making additional contributions
can have on your final PSS benefit.

Contributions into super generally
must remain within super until you retire and reach preservation age, so you
need to weigh up the costs and benefits of additional contributions, taking
into account your objectives, financial situation and needs, before making any
financial decisions regarding your super.

PSSap Ancillary

Personal After Tax Contributions

Additional personal and spouse contributions can be made via BPAY, cheque and money order. Please note that contribution caps apply – if you exceed the cap, you may have to pay extra tax. Please refer to the Australian Tax Office website for more information on contribution caps.

CLAIMING TAX DEDUCTIONS

You may be able to claim a tax deduction for personal (after-tax) contributions made into your PSSap Ancillary account. Any amounts claimed as a tax deduction will have 15% tax deducted and be counted towards your concessional (before-tax) contribution cap. For further information about personal after tax contributions refer to the Australian Tax Office website.

Salary Sacrifice

Salary sacrifice payments are before tax contributions which are taxed at 15% on entry to your account.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SALARY SACRIFICING?

Salary sacrifice payments are before tax contributions which are taxed at 15% on entry to your account. This means that you could pay less tax on salary sacrifice contributions than you would pay if you took that same amount as ordinary income.

DOES IT MEAN I GET PAID LESS EACH FORTNIGHT?

If you salary sacrifice super contributions you will have less take home pay each fortnight. However, this may be a tax effective way to save for your retirement if your personal tax rate is greater than 15% as the amount going into your super may be more than the amount your take home pay is reduced by.

The amount you decide to contribute is entirely up to you, so you can make sure it’s affordable and within your budget.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

The higher your income tax rate, the more benefit you get. The benefits for those earning less than $37,000 per year are limited.

Your employer may also have a cap on the amount you are allowed to salary sacrifice. Be sure not to exceed this amount.

You should talk to your employer to make sure that you understand whether salary sacrificing amounts into super will impact on any other element of your remuneration.

Contributions into super generally must remain within super until you retire and reach preservation age, so you need to weigh up the costs and benefits of salary sacrifice, taking into account your objectives, financial situation and needs, before making any financial decisions regarding your super.

HOW DO I SET IT UP?

1. Check whether your employer allows you to salary sacrifice into super. Most employers allow salary sacrificing but it’s best to confirm with your personnel/HR section.

3. Instruct your employer to deduct your nominated salary sacrifice amount from your regular pay. Once it’s set up, the nominated amount will automatically be deducted from your salary and deposited into your PSSap Ancillary account until you ask them to stop.

Contact us

Scheme ABN / RSE information

CSS

PSS

PSSAP

DFRDB

ABN: 39 798 362 763

MILITARY SUPER

ABN: 50 925 523 120

RSE: R1000306

ADF SUPER

ABN: 90 302 247 344

RSE: R1077063

ADF COVER

ABN: 64 250 674 722

CSCri

ABN: 65 127 917 725

RSE: R1004601

General Advice

Any financial product advice on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking account of your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any such general advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. You may wish to consult a licensed financial advisor. You should obtain a copy of the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and consider its contents before making any decision regarding your super.
Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC). ABN 48 882 817 243 AFSL 238069 RSE Licence No: L0001397